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Barking Owl

Location and HabitatFound all over Australia but not in the dry arid interior.
They live in pairs and have their own territories, preferring open eucalypt woodland,

Description
They get their name from the almost dog like quick bark and growl
Large, bright yellow eyes with no dark eye patches (i.e. no facial mask)
and usually dark feathers with some lighter patches

Activities
It roosts by day in trees, and at night preys upon birds (up to the size of a Tawny Frogmouth), mammals, rabbits and nocturnal insects.

Nesting & Breeding
July to November. The nest is a bed of wood debris in a tree hollow, selected and prepared by the male. They normally lay 2 - 3 eggs which take 5 weeks to hatch.
The Female and the young are provided for by the male until the young "Fledge" after about 40 odd days

Barn Owl

Location and Habitat
This type of Owl is among the most widespread, and well known bird worldwide.
In Australia, though being found across the whole contentient it is more common in the east and south-west than in our hot and dry (arid) interior.
It is found in grasslands, farmlands and woodlands.

Description
Slim; upright posture. Its very distinctive face has small black eyes surrounded by a white Rounded heart-shaped facial mask.
Its voice is a rasping screech.

Activities
Australian individuals seem more rigidly nocturnal and the bird is seldom seen despite its abundance. It lives alone or in pairs and seldom calls.

Feeding
It requires open country over which to hunt It feeds largely on mice, especially the House Mouse
Because of a fringe of soft barbs under their wing feathers the Barn Owl makes no noise in flight,
greatly improving its hunting capabilities.

Nesting & Breeding
It roosts in caves, sheds and barns, tree hollows, or densely foliaged trees.
Breeding is very flexible in timing often relates to the availability of mice (feed)
and the pair bond is temporary. Most nests are in large tree hollows. .They normally lay 3-4 eggs which take 5 weeks to hatch. The hatchlings are white and very fluffy
Both the female and the male (later) help with the feeding of the young until the young "Fledge" in about 60 to 70 days

Boobook Owl

Location and Habitat
Sometimes referred to as the "Mopoke", the Boobook Owl, is the most common owl in Australia found in all types of wooded countryside throughout the continent
Description
This small brown owl is Australia’s smallest owl.
Its white eyebrows gives it a "spectacle" or glasses look !
It has a distinctive call often heard in the bush. a loud deliberate "boo-book", the first note pitched higher than the second

Feeding
The Boobook Owl preys on small birds and mammals such as the House Mouse
and also invertebrates (insects) which are also eaten, especially moths and nocturnal beetles

Nesting & Breeding
Breeding occurs from August to December. It nests on decayed wood debris in a tree hollow. 2 to 4 white rounded eggs are incubated for a month.
The male feeds both the female and the young, which fledge at about 40 days.

Grass Owl (Eastern)

Location and Habitat
heathland and grasslands anywhere with tall glass even swamps,
floodplains coastal heaths, sugar can etc right along the upper East coast and Northern Australia

Activities
Aptly named, the Grass Owl shelters by day in dense grass tussocks, reached by hidden tunnels (runways) in the grass.

Feeding
The Long-haired Rat is its major prey.
By night it hunts flying several meter’s above the ground, locating prey by sight and sound
Its legs hang down when flying to be used for catching prey

Nesting & Breeding
Mostly March to June and usually roosts and always breeds on the ground.
The nest is a hidden platform of grass, and the usual clutch, 4-6 smooth white eggs. Only the female incubates, but the male brings her food at night and roosts with her during the day.

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